Trade fairs no longer include two days of press conferences, enormous new vehicle lines from practically every auto brand, and lavish offsite activities. Before the epidemic, auto shows were downsized so automakers could pay less and garner more exposure for standalone car reveals or digital premieres.
The car show isn’t dead like E3 is in gaming. The 2023 New York International Car Show proved that this week. That was a far cry from when reporters, industry executives, and automobile purchasers saw outlandish concept vehicles, surprise premieres, and over-the-top parties. Instead, as a snapshot, it can reveal trends, technology, and new items that will shape our transportation in the next years.
This year’s New York International Auto Show included electric vehicles, trucks, SUVs, and EV charging, conveying that the auto industry is rushing toward zero-emission vehicles without sacrificing the big, luxurious, costly vehicles people adore (and spend vast sums on).
This vehicle show was also a reality check. Following years of consumer disappointment with “self-driving vehicles,” automakers in New York focused on electrification, rapid charging, and software features.
Carmakers are still pursuing enhanced autonomy. They describe their futures more soberly. Expect improved automatic driving assistance and smart cruise control, but nobody talked about turning your car into a robot taxi to make money. Jaguar displayed its Waymo i-Pace test car at this event in 2018.
Yet, auto events like this one are still valuable for vehicle consumers, many of whom haven’t found what they want because of the chip scarcity and want to learn more without the pressure of a dealership.
Let’s examine this year’s show’s biggest debuts, headlines, and displays and their impact on the industry.
Photo: Ram
New York debuted two large electric cars.
This week in New York, the Ram 1500 Rev debuted. Ram’s first EV has displays, 350kW rapid charging, and bi-directional charging, but it’s not as stylish as the CES prototype. That means the truck can power other devices or transfer electricity back into the grid, making it a battery on wheels. Expect that to be a significant problem with EVs.
This is a Ram 1500-sized vehicle. (And probably as exciting to drive through New York’s busy streets.) Ram was blunt. The top Ram 1500 Rev has a 229 kWh battery pack, double the capacity of the largest Tesla battery, according to TechCrunch transportation writer Kirsten Korosec. Ram claims 500 miles of range, but the EPA will decide.
Kia EV9 SUV Image credit: Tayfun Coskun
Kia’s EV9 launch was massive. This three-row SUV for large and “multi-generational” families uses the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 architecture.
It’s a big crossover, like a Toyota Highlander, but not as tall as I thought. Buyers who want to quit fuel yet have lots of items and people to transport should love it.
Photo: Jeep
Nobody likes a “software-defined vehicle.” However awkward, it’s true. Future electric and electrified automobiles may be more about software, personalization, in-car apps, and streaming entertainment than driving dynamics.
During the 2023 NYIAS, manufacturers discussed that. It’s no longer about screen size but what it does for you.
Hyundai’s Tesla-style over-the-air upgrades and the Ram 1500 Rev’s multi-screen infotainment system were centerpieces of that presentation. In addition, connect five features of 62 off-road route guides in the 2024 Jeep Wrangler. The subscription version adds 3,000 trail guides.
It will increase in the next years. Buyers or not, automakers are betting big on subscription feature income.
Hyundai’s striking sedans
Hyundai’s EV launch proves that big-deal automobiles don’t have to be enormous. Nevertheless, the 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric’s attractive design, small size, and 260-mile range seem promising.
The latest Kona Electric costs $33,550, which may be a bargain compared to the Ioniq 5. If EVs aren’t your thing, it has two gasoline engines, one turbocharged with 195 horsepower.
Many will witness the new Hyundai Ioniq 6 car for the first time (aluminum?). That will attract your attention, I promise. This elegant sedan takes its cues from historical “streamliners” rather than the Ioniq 5 crossover. Sedan sales are down, but they’re still stylish.
Chevrolet Equinox EV
Javits Center visitors will see current and forthcoming EVs from almost every manufacturer, demonstrating the scale of this electric attack.
The new Nissan Ariya, which is already on the streets; the Chevrolet Equinox EV, which could be a Tesla rival if it delivers on its $30,000 price tag; the Ford F-150 Lightning and its delightful frunk; a display showing the bare chassis of the Volkswagen ID.4; and many others, including the Volkswagen ID. Buzz caught my eye. Why isn’t that for sale? Let people purchase it! In New York, you can see an EV.
We often equate “efficiency” with “small.” But as I wrote yesterday, automakers won’t be sacrificing size with their EV pushes — and they’ll finance that with truck, crossover, and SUV sales.
Even as they go green, bigger and more rugged vehicles are spotlighted in New York. Nissan, Ford, Chevy, Toyota, and more showed off their people-haulers and work-focused vehicles with all the outdoorsy accouterments that come with them. Check out the giant pseudo-national park display Subaru built on the show floor if you need further proof.
The future of cars may be greener, but they won’t be compact. And a bit of a shame; given that this is the New York Auto Show, I would’ve liked to have seen more city-friendly options from the automakers here, but that’s not where the business seems to be going. How many cars on display here would you want to parallel park in Brooklyn?
Genesis
The SUV boom has caused automakers to redefine SUVs. The SUV coupe, which features a lower roof and a coupe-like appearance, is a result of this. BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche do this enthusiastically.
Hyundai’s new premium division’s Genesis GV80 Coupe Concept debuted at this auto show. Production appears imminent. Hyundai provided a few specifics this week, but if Car and Driver are true and it only offers the GV80’s 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6, I’d expect it to start a bit more than that car’s $62,950 base price.
I adore orange. I hope it is made and sold.
I’ve covered auto shows long enough to recall when car makers would roll out a mind-blowing, never-before-seen concept car to a collective gasp. (And how outlets scrambled to acquire leaked photographs of those concepts before their premieres.)
In New York, it was the GV80 Coupe that surprised me. Recent press releases included the Ram, Kia, and Hyundai Kona. Most customers won’t care, but it indicates auto shows’ declining news value. Automobile firms prefer to host their events (typically online, cheaper) rather than compete with others.
The quantity of indoor EV demos surprised me. Hyundai has a mini-test track for Ioniq vehicles, Ford offers Mustang Mach-E rides, and BMW, Chevrolet, Kia, Nissan, and VW EVs may be driven on a basement course.
As EVs have minimal tailpipe emissions, this is simpler indoors. (Carbon monoxide poisoning is only fun once; ask me how I know.) Toyota is also testing its electrified bZ4x outside the Javits Center.
Auto manufacturers urge you to try EVs. This car show may be the first time many electro-curious consumers see how they drive, feel, and operate differently from ICE vehicles.
Government agencies and corporations like Charge NY and Autel displayed residential electricity alternatives and tax advantages in the lower-level exhibitions. Maintaining an EV requires changing your behaviors, expectations, techniques, and equipment. You may find answers to your queries about doing all that here.
The JDM Concours d’Elegance
If you want to escape EV charging, kilowatt-hours, and software-defined automobiles, head to the basement.
The JDM Concours d’Elegance showcases rare vintage Japanese performance vehicles, many of which were never marketed in America. So it was a pleasant surprise, and Gran Turismo fans—and their kids—should like it.
